Air China to start Beijing-Honolulu flights

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Nearly 300 Chinese visitors will be among the first on Air China's nonstop flight from Beijing to Honolulu starting Monday.

The inaugural flight -- Air China 837 -- is expected to arrive at about 4:30 p.m. where passengers, flight crew and VIPs from Air China and Chinese media will be welcomed with lei, hula, music and dance.

Air China's new flight -- which runs three times a week -- comes before Hawaiian Airlines' nonstop service between Honolulu and Beijing, scheduled to begin on April 16.